Method for manufacturing silver triangular pyramid particles and silver triangular pyramid particles

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a method for manufacturing silver triangular pyramid particles including: forming an electric field in an electrolytic solution including silver ions and a surfactant to reduce the silver ions into silver triangular pyramid particles.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing silvertriangular pyramid particles and to silver triangular pyramid particles,and particularly to a method for manufacturing silver triangular pyramidparticles to which method electrolytic deposition is applied and tosilver triangular pyramid particles manufactured by the method.

2. Related Art

With recent progress in informalization, the amount of paper consumed asmedia for information transmission is increasing. Meanwhile, imagedisplay media that can repeatedly record and erase images and that areknown as electronic paper have drawn attentions. In order to put suchelectronic paper into practical use, the electronic paper is required tobe easily carried, to be light, to be not bulky (to be thin), as withordinary paper and to rewrite information at low energy, to exhibitlittle deterioration during repeated rewriting and to have excellentreliability.

As a display technology suitably applied to such display media, there isa method for applying an electric field to an electrolytic solutionincluding a metal salt such as a silver salt solution to deposit ordissolve a metal such as silver.

However, the shape of the metal particles deposited by applying theelectric field deposition method using the above techniques is limitedto a sphere.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method formanufacturing silver triangular pyramid particles including: forming anelectric field in an electrolytic solution including silver ions and asurfactant to reduce the silver ions into silver triangular pyramidparticles.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a silverparticle having a triangular pyramid shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in detail basedon the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a sectional view schematically showing an example of anapparatus for manufacturing silver triangular pyramid particles of theinvention in which silver triangular pyramid particles have not beendeposited, and FIG. 1B is a sectional view showing a state in whichsilver triangular pyramid particles have been deposited in the apparatusof FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a first voltage waveform;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view schematically showing a triangular prismparticle, and FIG. 3B is a graph showing light absorption peaks of theparticle of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view schematically showing a silver triangularpyramid particle of the invention, and FIG. 4B is a graph showing alight absorption peak of the particle of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5 is a graph showing an example of measured reduction potentialdata;

FIG. 6 is a graph showing another example of measured reductionpotential data;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing measured reduction potential data in Example1;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the first voltage waveform used in Examples1 to 3 and Comparative Example 1;

FIG. 9 is the scanning electron micrograph of the silver triangularpyramid particles deposited in Example 1 (power of thirty thousandstimes);

FIG. 10 is the scanning electron micrograph of the particles depositedin Comparative Example 1 (power of sixty thousands times); and

FIG. 11 is the scanning electron micrograph of the silver triangularpyramid particles deposited in Example 2 (power of three thousandstimes).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The silver triangular pyramid particle of the invention may bemanufactured by forming an electric field in an electrolytic solutioncontaining silver ions and at least one surfactant to reduce the silverions into silver particles.

In the following, a specific method for manufacturing the silvertriangular pyramid particles of the invention will be described.

In the following method for manufacturing the silver triangular pyramidparticles of the invention, a silver triangular pyramid particlemanufacturing apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1A is used.

The silver triangular pyramid particle manufacturing apparatus 10 has areaction vessel 12 containing an electrolytic solution layer 34 filledwith an electrolytic solution 32; a voltage application unit 14 forapplying a voltage to the electrolytic solution layer 34; and acontroller 15 for controlling the voltage application unit 14 to adjustthe value of the voltage applied to the electrolytic solution layer 34.

The reaction vessel 12 has a rear substrate 16, a front substrate 20facing the rear substrate 16 and spaced apart from the rear substrate16, plural spacers 26, the electrolytic solution layer 34, a secondelectrode 22, and a first electrode 24.

When the rear substrate 16 and the front substrate 20 are made of anelectrically conductive material, the front substrate 20 and the rearsubstrate 16 also function respectively as the second electrode 22 andthe first electrode 24. Therefore, the second electrode 22 and the firstelectrode 24 may not be provided in this case.

The reaction vessel 12 has a structure in which the second electrode 22,the electrolytic solution layer 34, the first electrode 24, and thefront substrate 20 are laminated in that order on the rear substrate 16.

The spacers 26 are provided between the rear substrate 16 and the frontsubstrate 20 to maintain predetermined space between the rear substrate16 and the front substrate 20 and to prevent the electrolytic solution32 in the electrolytic solution layer 34 from leaking out of thereaction vessel 12.

The electrolytic solution layer 34 is regions (hereinafter referred toas “compartments” in some cases) surrounded by the second electrode 22laminated on the rear substrate 16, the spacers 26, and the firstelectrode 24 laminated on the front substrate 20, and includes theelectrolytic solution 32.

The voltage application unit 14 for forming an electric field in theelectrolytic solution layer 34 by applying a voltage to the secondelectrode 22 and the first electrode 24 is electrically connected to thesecond electrode 22 and the first electrode 24 so that signals can besent and received therebetween.

To deposit silver triangular pyramid particles 36 (see FIG. 1B) on thefront substrate 20 and the rear substrate 16, both the substrates aremade of a material that is not degraded or corroded by the presence ofthe electrolytic solution and formation of an electric field, andotherwise there is no particular limit to the substrates.

Each of the front substrate 20 and the rear substrate 16 is preferably afilm or sheet made of a polymer such as polyester (e.g. polyethyleneterephthalate), polyimide, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene,polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, nylon, polyvinyl chloride,polyvinylidene chloride, polycarbonate, polyether sulfone, siliconeresin, polyacetal resin, fluorinated resin, a cellulose derivative, orpolyolefin; or an inorganic substrate such as a glass substrate, a metalsubstrate, or a ceramic substrate.

The spacers 26 may be made of any known resin material. However, thespacers 26 are preferably made of a photosensitive resin from theviewpoint of manufacture.

The spacers 26 may be particles. The particle size distribution thereofis preferably in a narrow range, and is preferably monodisperse. Thespacers preferably have a light color, and more preferable white color.The spacers are preferably made of at least one of the above-describedpolymer, silicon dioxide and titanium oxide. When the spacers areparticles, the surfaces of the particles are preferably treated with afinishing agent such a silane coupling agent or a titanate couplingagent in order to improve the dispersibility of the particles in asolvent and to protect the particles from a solvent.

The aforementioned members are bonded to each other through adhesivelayers (not shown). There is no particular limit to the type of thematerial of the adhesive layers, and a thermosetting resin, or anultraviolet ray curable resin may be used as such. However, a materialwhich does not adversely affect the materials of the members of thereaction vessel 12 such as the spacers 26, and the electrolytic solution32 contained in the electrolytic solution layer 34 is selected as thematerial of the adhesive layer.

It is unnecessary that the spacers 26 be bonded to the first electrode24 and the second electrode 22. In this case, the reaction vessel 12 asa whole may be so immersed into a large quantity of the electrolyticsolution layer 34 that a metal such as silver may be deposited in theelectrolytic solution layer 34.

Each of the second electrode 22 and the first electrode 24 is preferablya layer made of a metal oxide such as tin oxide-indium oxide (ITO), tinoxide, or zinc oxide. Furthermore, each of the second electrode 22 andthe first electrode 24 may be made of at least one of these materials ora laminated body made of at least two of these materials.

Desired thickness and size of each of the second electrode 22 and thefirst electrode 24 depend on the reaction vessel 12, and there are noparticular limits thereto.

Next, the electrolytic solution layer 34 will be described.

The electrolytic solution layer 34 includes the electrolytic solution32. The electrolytic solution 32 contains at least one surfactant, whichwill be described later, and silver ions 30 dissolved in theelectrolytic solution 32.

The silver ions 30 are reduced by applying a voltage of depositionpotential to the electrolytic solution layer 34 and silver triangularpyramid particles 36 (see FIG. 1B) are thereby deposited. When a voltageof dissolution potential is applied to the silver triangular pyramidparticles deposited, the silver triangular pyramid particles areoxidized into the silver ions 30, which are dissolved in theelectrolytic solution 32.

The deposition potential is potential capable of reducing the silverions 30 dissolved in the electrolytic solution 32 into the depositedsilver triangular pyramid particles 36, while the dissolution potentialis potential capable of oxidizing at least a part of the silvertriangular pyramid particles deposited into the silver ions 30 dissolvedin the electrolytic solution 32.

More specifically, when a voltage equal to or higher than the reductionpotential serving as the threshold between the deposition potential andthe dissolution potential, or, in other words, the threshold at whichthe silver ions 30 are reduced is applied as shown in FIG. 2, silvertriangular pyramid particles are deposited due to reductive reaction ofthe silver ions 30 in the electrolytic solution 32. On the other hand,when a voltage less than the reduction potential is applied, the silvertriangular pyramid particles deposited are oxidized into the silver ions30 dissolved in the electrolytic solution 32.

Here, the expression “voltage equal to or higher than the reductionpotential” means voltage at which the reductive reaction of the silverions 30 is dominant to the oxidative reaction of the silver triangularpyramid particles. The expression “voltage less than the reductionpotential” means a voltage at which the oxidative reaction of the silvertriangular pyramid particles is dominant to the reductive reaction ofthe silver ions 30.

The silver ions 30 contained in the electrolytic solution 32 can beobtained by using a compound containing silver as a raw material. Thereis no particular limit to the type of the compound containing silver.Examples thereof include silver nitrate, silver acetate, silverperchlorate, and silver iodide.

The silver ions 30 may be produced in the electrolytic solution layer 34by dissolving any of these metal compounds in the electrolytic solution32.

The electrolytic solution 32 contains at least one surfactant, asdescribed previously.

The surfactant preferably has an alkyl main chain in the molecule. Thealkyl main chain preferably has 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 2to 18 carbon atoms, and still more preferably 4 to 16 carbon atoms.

Examples of such a surfactant include cationic surfactants such as aminesalts, ammonium salts, and phosphates; anionic surfactants such assulfonates; and nonionic surfactants. The surfactant is preferably acationic surfactant in view of the electric charges of the silver ions.

Specific examples of the surfactant include, but are not limited to,tetramethylammonium bromide, tetraethylammonium bromide,tetrabutylammonium bromide, butyltriethylammonium bromide,tetraoctylammonium bromide, tetradodecylammonium bromide,dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, and hexadecyltrimethylammoniumbromide; and alkylammonium chlorides and alkylammonium iodides obtainedby replacing the bromide of these tetraalkylammonium bromides withchloride or iodide; and alkylphosphonium bromides obtained by replacingthe ammonium of the tetraalkylammoniumn bromides with phosphonium.

When any of the above-described surfactants is dissolved or dispersed inan electrolytic solution and an electric field is formed in theelectrolytic solution, silver triangular pyramid particles may bedeposited.

The amount of the surfactant(s) contained in the electrolytic solutionin the invention is preferably about 1 part by weight to about 10,000parts by weight, more preferably about 10 parts by weight to about 5,000parts by weight, and still more preferably about 100 parts by weight toabout 3000 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of silverions.

When the amount of the surfactant(s) contained in the electrolyticsolution is less than about 1 part by weight with respect to 100 partsby weight of silver ions, the deposited particles cannot be completelycovered with the surfactant, making it difficult to control the shapesof the silver particles. When the amount of the surfactant(s) exceedsabout 10,000 parts by weight, it becomes difficult to completelydissolve the surfactant in the electrolytic solution.

The electrolytic solution 32 of the electrolytic solution layer 34contains silver ions 30, at least one surfactant, and a solvent fordissolving the silver ions 30, and otherwise there is no particularlimit thereto. However, the electrolytic solution 21 may further containa variety of materials, if necessary.

The solvent may be water, alcohol such as methanol, ethanol, orisopropyl alcohol, or other non-aqueous solvent (e.g., an organicsolvent). One of these solvents may be used alone or two or more of themcan be used together.

The non-aqueous solvent is, for example, an aprotic non-aqueous solvent.Examples thereof include ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate,butylene carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, ethyl methylcarbonate, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethyl propionate,dimethylsulfoxide, γ-butyrolactone, dimethoxyethane, diethoxyethane,tetrahydrofuran, formamide, dimethylformamide, diethylformamide,dimethylacetamide, acetonitrile, propionitrile, and methylpyrrolidone;and silicone oils.

The electrolytic solution 32A may contain at least one additive, such asa water-soluble resin, and/or polymer particles. More specifically, thesolvent is so selected as to dissolve silver ions and as to dissolve ordisperse an electrolytic material, a polymer, and/or a surfactant.

Examples of the water-soluble resin include polyalkylene oxides such aspolyethylene oxide; polyalkylene imines such as polyethylene imine; andpolymers such as polyethylene sulfide, polyacrylate, polymethylmethacrylate, polyvinylidene fluoride, polycarbonate, polyacrylonitrile,and polyvinyl alcohol. One of these resins may be used alone or two ormore of them can be used together.

Control of the travel speed of the metal ions in the electrolyticsolution layer, and stabilization of the silver triangular pyramidparticles deposited can be achieved by dissolving or dispersing such awater-soluble resin in the electrolytic solution. The amount of thewater-soluble resin contained may be appropriately adjusted on the basisof the type(s) of the metal ions and/or the amounts of other components.

The electrolytic solution 32 preferably contains the counter ions forthe metal ions.

The counter ions allow the silver ions 30 to stably exist in theelectrolytic solution 32, unless the above-described deposition voltageis applied to the electrolytic solution layer. Otherwise there is noparticular limit to the counter ions. Examples thereof include fluorineions, chlorine ions, bromine ions, iodine ions, perchloric ions, andfluoroborate ions.

The controller 15 controls the voltage application unit 14 so that thevoltage application unit 14 applies a predetermined voltage to theelectrolytic solution layer 34. When a voltage having a first voltagewaveform is applied to the electrolytic solution layer 34, an electricfield is formed in the electrolytic solution 32 of the electrolyticsolution layer 34 and the silver triangular pyramid particles of theinvention are deposited.

The predetermined voltage may be the voltage of the aforementioneddeposition potential. Preferably, the predetermined voltage is a voltagethat varies periodically between the deposition potential and thedissolution potential as shown in FIG. 2, and in which a relationshipbetween a period of time T1 during which the deposition potential iscontinued and a period of time T2 during which the dissolution potentialis continued is represented by a voltage waveform satisfying thefollowing relationship.

$\begin{matrix}{{100(\%)} > {\frac{T\; 1}{{T\; 1} + {T\; 2}} \times 100} > {50(\%)}} & {{Expression}\mspace{14mu} (1)}\end{matrix}$

It is necessary that the value of T1×100/(T1+T2) in the expression (1)be more than about 50 and less than 100. However, the value ispreferably within the range of from about 55 to about 95, and morepreferably within the range of from about 60 to about 90.

When the value of T1×100/(T1+T2) in the expression (1) is 100%, thedissolution potential is not contained in the first voltage waveform,and silver triangular pyramid particles, which may have uneven sizes,are deposited. When the value is about 50% or less, the continuousvoltage application time T2 of the dissolution potential becomes longerthan the continuous voltage application time T1 of the depositionpotential, and thus, and the dissolution is dominant to the deposition,resulting in no deposition of the silver triangular pyramid particlesdue to application of the voltage having the first voltage waveform.

When the voltage having the first voltage waveform is applied to theelectrolytic solution layer 34, the reductive reaction of the silverions 30 dissolved in the electrolytic solution 32 proceeds during aperiod of time (time T1) when the application of a voltage of thedeposition potential is continued, whereby the silver ions 30 arereduced to deposit silver triangular pyramid particles. On the otherhand, the oxidative reaction of the silver triangular pyramid particlesdeposited proceeds during a period of time (time T2) when theapplication of a voltage of the dissolution potential is continued,whereby small silver triangular pyramid particles deposited are oxidizedand dissolved in the electrolytic solution 32 as silver ions 30 anddisappear, and large triangular pyramid particles dwindle.

Thus, when the voltage having the first voltage waveform is applied tothe electrolytic solution layer 34, deposition of silver triangularpyramid particles and dissolution of the silver triangular pyramidparticles occur periodically. Moreover, since the time T1 during whichthe voltage of the deposition potential is continuously applied islonger than the time T2 during which the voltage of the dissolutionpotential is continuously applied, deposition of silver triangularpyramid particles having less uneven sizes can be realized.

Although the first voltage waveform 40 is a rectangular waveform in FIG.2, the first voltage waveform may also be any of a waveform having aflat portion in each of high and low potential portions, and sinewave-shaped and triangle wave-shaped waveforms in which potentialchanges continuously.

The frequency of the first voltage waveform is preferably about 10 Hz toabout 100 MHz, more preferably about 50 Hz to about 10 MHz, and stillmore preferably about 100 Hz to about 1 MHz from the viewpoints of thediffusion speed of the silver ions and the reaction speed of redox.

The reduction potential, the shape (e.g., sine waveform, or rectangularwaveform), and the frequency used to define the first voltage waveform40 depend on the type of the electrolytic solution 32, the type of thesecond electrode 22 and the first electrode 24, and the thickness of thespacers 26 (i.e. a distance between the second electrode 22 and thefirst electrode 24).

More specifically, the reduction potential is determined by the type ofthe solvent for the silver ions 30 dissolved in the electrolyticsolution 32, and the type(s) and the concentration of other additive(s).

Furthermore, the shape of the first voltage waveform 40 (e.g., sinewaveform, or rectangular waveform), and the amplitude width of the firstvoltage waveform 40 with respect to the reduction potential are sodetermined as to reduce or oxidize the substances that are contained inthe electrolytic solution and that are other than the silver ions aslittle as possible.

The application time of the voltage having the first voltage waveformmay be continued until a desired amount of the silver triangular pyramidparticles are deposited on the surface of the electrode.

In the aforementioned descriptions, an electric field is formed in theelectrolytic solution 32 hermetically confined in a space formed by thefront substrate 20, the rear substrate 16, and the spacers 26 to depositsilver triangular pyramid particles 36. However, the manufacturingdevice usable in the method for manufacturing silver triangular pyramidparticles of the invention is not limited to such a device. It isnecessary that the manufacturing device allows formation of an electricfield in the electrolytic solution 32, and otherwise there is noparticular limit to the manufacturing device.

When the voltage is applied to the electrolytic solution 32 of theelectrolytic solution layer 34, the silver ions 30 in the electrolyticsolution 32 may be reduced to deposit silver triangular pyramidparticles.

The term “triangular pyramid” means a polyhedron having as each side astraight line or a curve, and triangular planes. The lengths of thelonger sides of the triangular planes of the polyhedron aresubstantially the same.

The triangular pyramid particles, the lengths of the longer sides of thetriangular planes of which are substantially the same means triangularpyramid particles that have only one light absorption peak rather thanplural light absorption peaks. The light absorption peak(s) can bemeasured by a spectrophotometer.

The mechanism that deposits silver triangular pyramid particles has notbecome clear, but is supposedly thought to be as follows. The surfactantsurrounds each of silver particles that are being deposited or thesilver ions that are being reduced, so that transfer of electrons fromthe electrode to the silver ions is restricted by means of the length ofthe alkyl chain of the surfactant.

The average length of the longer sides of the silver triangular pyramidparticles deposited is preferably about 1 to about 1000 nm, and morepreferably about 2 to about 500 nm. Silver triangular pyramid particleseach having a longer side within the range of from about 4 to about 100nm are significant from the viewpoints of practicability and good colorintensity.

The lengths of the sides of the silver triangular pyramid particles ofthe invention are calculated by analyzing the electron microscopicimages of the silver triangular pyramid particles deposited.

The silver triangular pyramid particles deposited have a surface plasmonabsorption peak in the visible light region, and exhibit a color(color-forming property) corresponding to the a surface plasmonabsorption peak. The expression “having a surface plasmon absorptionpeak in the visible light region” means having a light absorption peakdue to surface plasmon resonance of the silver triangular pyramidparticles in the wavelength region of visible light, resulting inexhibition of a color (color-forming property) corresponding to the asurface plasmon absorption peak.

Such color originating from the surface plasmon absorption is observedin so-called nanoparticles having longer sides of around several nm toseveral ten nm, and such particles have high chroma, high absorbance andexcellent durability.

Moreover, the light absorption peak due to plasmon absorption appears ata wavelength corresponding to the lengths of the sides of particles. Forthis reason, the particles deposited exhibit a color-forming propertycorresponding to the lengths of the sides of the particles.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, when a particle deposited has atriangular prism shape with sides having a length (a) and sides having alength (b), the particle with the sides having different lengthsexhibits two light absorption peaks: a light absorption peak 13corresponding to the sides having a length (a) and a light absorptionpeak 19 corresponding to the sides having a length (b) as shown in FIG.3B.

For this reason, when the particle deposited has a shape with sideshaving two or more different lengths as in a triangular prism particle,such a particle exhibits plural light absorption peaks having differentwavelengths corresponding to the lengths of the sides.

On the other hand, since the silver triangular pyramid particle of theinvention has sides whose lengths are substantially the same (e.g.length (c)) in the respective triangular planes as shown in FIG. 4A, thesilver triangular pyramid particle has only one light absorption peak 17corresponding to sides having a length (c), as shown in FIG. 4B.

The color originating from the surface plasmon absorption depends on thelengths of the sides of a particle deposited. For this reason, it may besaid that a particle with sides having more uniform lengths as in thesilver triangular pyramid particles of the invention results in highercolor-purity color-forming property than a particle with sides havinguneven lengths.

The silver triangular pyramid particles of the invention may be used indisplay media and display device using color due to surface plasmonresonance. The silver triangular pyramid particles of the invention mayalso be used as the sensor portions of biosensors that detect themolecules of a living body such as DNA chips or protein chips, and, inother words, fractionates the molecules contained in a liquid sample andfurther detects the molecules fractionated. More specifically, thesurfaces of the silver triangular pyramid particles of the invention aremodified with molecules (e.g., complemental strand for DNA or antigen orantibody for protein), change in plasmon resonance which change isobtained by combining desired molecules of a living body with the silversurfaces is detected. The silver triangular pyramid particles of theinvention may also be used as coloring materials for paints

EXAMPLES Example 1

A silver triangular pyramid particle manufacturing apparatus 10 having astructure shown in FIG. 1 is fabricated in the following procedures.

First, a glass substrate having a thickness of 1 mm, a length of 3 cmand a width of 3 cm is prepared as a front surface. Tin oxide-indiumoxide (ITO) is sputtered on the entire surface of the glass substrate toform a first electrode having a thickness of 200 nm.

As in the first electrode, tin oxide-indium oxide (ITO) is sputtered onthe entire surface of a glass substrate that is the same as theaforementioned glass substrate and that serves as a rear substrate toform a second electrode having a thickness of 200 nm.

Then, silver iodide (manufactured by Aldrich Corporation) and lithiumiodide (manufactured by Aldrich Corporation) are respectively dissolvedin separate portions of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO manufactured by AldrichCorporation) to prepare solutions having concentrations of therespective components of 5 mmol/liter. Furthermore, the silver iodidesolution and the lithium iodide solution are admixed so that the amountsof these solutions are equivalent. Thus, a mixture is obtained.

Moreover, hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide with an alkyl chainhaving 16 carbon (C16) atoms is added as a surfactant to the mixture sothat the concentration thereof in the resultant blend becomes 0.5mmol/liter. Thereafter, tetradodecylammonium bromide with an alkyl chainhaving 12 carbon (C12) atoms is added as another surfactant to the blendso that the concentration thereof in the resulting admixture becomes0.25 mmol/liter, whereby an electrolytic solution containing silver ionsand surfactants is prepared.

Lead wires each having a suitable length are electrically connected tothe first electrode and the second electrode, respectively, so as toenable application of a voltage thereto.

Next, a spacer having a height of 200 μm and made of a polyimide resinis disposed on the first electrode formed on the glass substrate servingas the front substrate such that the area of a portion of the firstelectrode on which portion a metal is to be deposited becomes 1.5 cm².At this time, the gap between the first electrode and the secondelectrode is 200 μm. Thereafter, the rear substrate is disposed on thespacer so that the first electrode faces the second electrode. Thus, alaminated body is obtained. Subsequently, an epoxy adhesive (ARALDITEmanufactured by Huntsman Advanced Materials Corporation) is applied toall, but a part, of the circumference of the end surfaces of thelaminated body and is then cured.

Then, the laminated body is filled with the electrolytic solutionthrough a portion of the end surfaces of the laminated body whichportion has not been sealed (an inlet for electrolytic solution).

The first electrode and the second electrode are electrically connectedto a function generator (AFG 310 manufactured by Tektronix Corporation)serving as a voltage application unit through the respective lead wiresso that signals can be sent and received between the function generatorand the first and second electrodes. Further, the function generator iselectrically connected to a personal computer serving as a controller.Such a configuration allows a voltage having any waveform to be appliedto the electrolytic solution.

Next, the reduction potential of the silver ions dissolved in theelectrolytic solution layer of the display medium thus prepared ismeasured.

The reduction potential is measured in accordance with a cyclicvoltammetry (CV) technique under the following conditions.

Measuring Instrument: Electrochemical Analyzer (CHI 604A manufactured byALS corporation)

Working Electrode/Counter Electrode: Pt electrodes

Reference Electrode: Pt electrode

Sample Solution: Electrolytic solution

Measuring Mode: DC

Scan Range: 1.0 to −1.50 V

Scan Rate: 0.1 V/s

A method for analyzing data measured by the measuring instrument underthe measuring conditions will be described. Specific examples of datameasured under the above-described conditions are shown in FIGS. 5 and6. In these graphs, the upper curve represents the reductive reaction ofan oxidant, while the lower curve represents the oxidative reaction of areductant.

In FIG. 5, the average value of electric potential E1 at which a peakappears in the lower curve and electric potential E2 at which a peakappears in the upper curve corresponds to the reduction potential.

Reduction potential=(E1+E2)/2

In the case where the curves each have plural peaks as shown in FIG. 6,the value of a larger reduction wave (one near to zero in FIG. 6) isregarded as the representative value. Namely, values E′1 and E′2 in FIG.6 are adopted, and the average value thereof corresponds to thereduction potential.

Reduction potential=(E′1+E′2)/2

The electrolytic solution prepared in Example 1 is used, and thereduction potential is measured in accordance with the aforementionedmeasuring method. Results shown in FIG. 7 are obtained. From theresults, it has been found that the reduction potential, calculated inaccordance with the analytic method, in the electrolytic solution isabout −300 mV. In this example, however, the reduction potential is setto be about −900 mV, which is the peak value of the reductive reaction,to secure deposition.

Next, the minus terminal of the function generator serving as thevoltage application unit is electrically connected to the firstelectrode, while the plus terminal of the function generator iselectrically connected to the second electrode. Thereafter, a voltagehaving a rectangular waveform shown in FIG. 8 as a first voltagewaveform is applied to the first and second electrodes.

In the rectangular waveform shown in FIG. 8, the electric potentialcorresponding to the half value line of the rectangular waveform (middleof pulse amplitude) is set to be −900 mV, which is the reductionpotential. Further, the measured results in FIG. 7 show that increase inpotential values by applying a voltage of −1400 mV or less (applicationof a minus voltage whose absolute value is equal to or more than 1400mV) is observed again. Accordingly, the pulse amplitude of therectangular wave serving as the first voltage wave is set to be 900 mVnot to apply a voltage of −1400 mV or less, e.g. −1600 mV. The frequencyof the rectangular wave is 100 Hz; and a value represented by thenumerical expression {T1×100/(T1+T2)}, in which T1 is the continuousvoltage application time of deposition potential and T2 is thecontinuous voltage application time of dissolution potential, is set tobe 90%.

The rectangular wave having the voltage waveform shown in FIG. 8 isapplied to the electrolytic solution layer through the first electrodeand the second electrode for 200 seconds. As a result, the firstelectrode is colored yellow. The absorption peak wavelength of thesurface of the first electrode is measured with a spectrophotometer,U-4100 manufactured by Hitachi and is found to be about 500 nm. In thiscase, only one absorption peak is found. From this fact, the differencein length between the respective sides is thought to be 0 nm.

The surface of the first electrode is observed with a scanning electronmicroscope (FE-SEM S-4500 manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd. and having powerof ten thousands to hundred thousands times). As a result, deposition oftriangular pyramid particles each having sides of about 100 to about 300nm is observed as shown in the photograph of FIG. 9 (power of thirtythousands times). Moreover, it is also observed that these particlesaggregate into triangular pyramid particles of a higher-order structure.

As a result of analysis with an energy dispersive X-ray analyzer (EDX)of the FE-SEM, it has been confirmed that the particles deposited aremade of silver. More specifically, it has been confirmed that the silvertriangular pyramid particles deposited on the surface of the firstelectrode are obtained by reducing the silver ions in the electrolyticsolution.

The length of sides of the particles is obtained as follows. Arbitraryfive points on the surface of the first electrode are photographed withthe scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM S-4500 manufactured by Hitachi,Ltd.) at power of 60 thousands times to obtain magnified images. Thelength of sides of particles in the magnified images is measured, andthe actual length of the sides is calculated in consideration of thepower.

As mentioned above, silver triangular pyramid particles can bemanufactured in accordance with the method for manufacturing silvertriangular pyramid particles of the invention.

Example 2

A silver triangular pyramid particle manufacturing apparatus isfabricated in the same manner as in Example 1, except that thesurfactants, or hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide andtetradodecylammonium bromide, are replaced with tetrabutylammoniumbromide with an alkyl chain having 4 carbon atoms (C4) andtetraoctylammonium bromide with an alkyl chain having 8 carbon atoms(C8) and the concentration of the tetraoctylammonium bromide with analkyl chain having 8 carbon atoms (C8) is 0.5 mmol/liter in preparing anelectrolytic solution containing silver ions and surfactants. When arectangular wave having the voltage waveform shown in FIG. 8 is appliedto the electrolytic solution layer through the first electrode and thesecond electrode for 200 seconds in the same manner as in Example 1, thefirst electrode is colored pale yellow. The absorption peak wavelengthof the surface of the first electrode is measured by thespectrophotometer U-4100 manufactured by Hitachi, and is found to beabout 500 nm.

Furthermore, when the surface of the first electrode is observed withthe scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM S-4500 manufactured by Hitachi,Ltd. and having power of ten thousands to hundred thousands times). As aresult, deposition of triangular pyramid particles each having sides ofabout 100 to about 300 nm is observed as shown in the photograph of FIG.11 (power of three thousands times). Moreover, it is also observed thatthese particles aggregate into triangular pyramid particles of ahigher-order structure.

As a result of analysis with an energy dispersive X-ray analyzer (EDX)of the FE-SEM, it has been confirmed that the particles deposited aremade of silver. More specifically, it has been confirmed that the silvertriangular pyramid particles deposited on the surface of the firstelectrode are obtained by reducing the silver ions in the electrolyticsolution.

The length of sides of the particles is obtained as follows. Arbitraryfive points on the surface of the first electrode are photographed withthe scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM S-4500 manufactured by Hitachi,Ltd.) at power of 60 thousands times to obtain magnified images. Thelength of sides of particles in the magnified images is measured, andthe actual length of the sides is calculated in consideration of thepower.

Example 3

A silver triangular pyramid particle manufacturing apparatus isfabricated in the same manner as in Example 1, except that thesurfactants, or hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide andtetradodecylammonium bromide, are replaced with sodium dodecylsulfate(SDS) having a sulfate group as a hydrophilic group and an alkyl chainwith 12 carbon atoms (C12) and tetraoctylammonium bromide with an alkylchain having 8 carbon atoms (C8), and the concentration of thetetraoctylammonium bromide with an alkyl chain having 8 carbon atoms is0.5 mmol/liter in preparing an electrolytic solution containing silverions and surfactants. When a rectangular wave having the voltagewaveform shown in FIG. 8 is applied to the electrolytic solution layerthrough the first electrode and the second electrode for 200 seconds inthe same manner as in Example 1, the first electrode is colored paleyellow. The absorption peak wavelength of the surface of the firstelectrode is measured by the spectrophotometer U-4100 manufactured byHitachi, and is found to be about 500 nm.

Furthermore, when the surface of the first electrode is observed withthe scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM S-4500 manufactured by Hitachi,Ltd. and having power of ten thousands to hundred thousands times). As aresult, deposition of triangular pyramid particles each having sides ofabout 100 to about 300 nm is observed. Moreover, it is also observedthat these particles aggregate into triangular pyramid particles of ahigher-order structure.

As a result of analysis with an energy dispersive X-ray analyzer (EDX)of the FE-SEM, it has been confirmed that the particles deposited aremade of silver. More specifically, it has been confirmed that the silvertriangular pyramid particles deposited on the surface of the firstelectrode are obtained by reducing the silver ions in the electrolyticsolution.

The length of sides of the particles is obtained as follows. Arbitraryfive points on the surface of the first electrode are photographed withthe scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM S-4500 manufactured by Hitachi,Ltd.) at power of 60 thousands times to obtain magnified images. Thelength of sides of particles in the magnified images is measured, andthe actual length of the sides is calculated in consideration of thepower.

Comparative Example 1

A silver triangular pyramid particle manufacturing apparatus isfabricated in the same manner as in Example 1, except that thesurfactants, or hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide andtetradodecylammonium bromide, are not used in preparing an electrolyticsolution containing silver ions and surfactants. When a rectangular wavehaving the voltage waveform shown in FIG. 8 is applied to theelectrolytic solution layer through the first electrode and the secondelectrode for 200 seconds in the same manner as in Example 1, the firstelectrode is colored pale gray. The absorption peak wavelength of thesurface of the first electrode is measured by the spectrophotometerU-4100 manufactured by Hitachi, and is found to be about 410 nm, and thepeak is broad.

Furthermore, when the surface of the first electrode is observed withthe scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM S-4500 manufactured by Hitachi,Ltd. and having power of ten thousands to hundred thousands times). As aresult, deposition of spherical particles each having sides of about 20to about 50 nm is observed as shown in the photograph of FIG. 10 (powerof sixty thousands times).

As a result of analysis with an energy dispersive X-ray analyzer (EDX)of the FE-SEM, it has been confirmed that the particles deposited aremade of silver. More specifically, it has been confirmed that the silverspherical particles deposited on the surface of the first electrode areobtained by reducing the silver ions in the electrolytic solution.

The length of sides of the particles is obtained as follows. Arbitraryfive points on the surface of the first electrode are photographed withthe scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM S-4500 manufactured by Hitachi,Ltd.) at power of 60 thousands times to obtain magnified images. Thelength of sides of particles in the magnified images is measured, andthe actual length of the sides is calculated in consideration of thepower.

As described above, the method for manufacturing silver triangularpyramid particles of the invention enables manufacture of triangularpyramid particles.

1. A method for manufacturing silver triangular pyramid particlescomprising: forming an electric field in an electrolytic solutionincluding silver ions and a surfactant to reduce the silver ions intosilver triangular pyramid particles.
 2. The method according to claim 1,wherein the surfactant has an alkyl chain with 1 to 20 carbon atoms. 3.The method according to claim 1, wherein the amount of the surfactant is1 to 10,000 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of thesilver ions in the electrolytic solution.
 4. The method according toclaim 2, wherein the amount of the surfactant is 1 to 10,000 parts byweight relative to 100 parts by weight of the silver ions in theelectrolytic solution.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein thesilver triangular pyramid particles have a surface plasmon absorptionpeak in a visible light region.
 6. The method according to claim 2,wherein the silver triangular pyramid particles have a surface plasmonabsorption peak in a visible light region.
 7. The method according toclaim 3, wherein the silver triangular pyramid particles have a surfaceplasmon absorption peak in a visible light region.
 8. The methodaccording to claim 4, wherein the silver triangular pyramid particleshave a surface plasmon absorption peak in a visible light region.
 9. Asilver particle having a triangular pyramid shape.
 10. The silverparticle according to claim 9, wherein the silver particle has a surfaceplasmon absorption peak in a visible light region.